Spring, 2008 HSOG Newsletter Page 1

H i s to r i ca l Soc ie ty o f Ocean Grove NEWSLETTER

ContentsContents Summer of 1905 in OG......... ..1 President’s Message.............. ..2 Treasurer’s Report ............... ..2 Your Museum Campaign …....2 2008 Events ........................... ..3 Doll Houses in Ocean Grove...3

SPRING ISSUE, 2008

VOL XXXVI NO 72

The HSOG is a non-profit 501(3)(C) independent organiza-tion. This newsletter is published by the HSOG. It is written and edited by its members.

The Summer of 1905 in Ocean Grove

Is the Topic for April Meeting

Gayle Eggen Aanensen (pictured below) author of The Little Rough Rider At The Jer-sey Shore, will speak at the next General Meeting of the Historical Society of Ocean Grove on Monday, April 28, 2008 at 7:00 PM in Francis As-bury Manor.

powerful men in American his-tory, President Theodore Roo-sevelt?

Travel back in time to July 7, 1905, when President Roo-sevelt makes an historic visit to the seaside resort of Ocean Grove, N.J. Hear about Sam Lawrence and his puny cousin, Teddy Whitlock, members of Ocean Grove’s Rough Riders Boys’ Choir. Gayle will depict a period in Ocean Grove history through the story of a fictional little boy who visits relatives. This enjoyable story clearly portrays the cultural heritage of our town and an accurate history lesson for all its read-ers.

Books will be available for purchase and Gayle will auto-graph them on the night of the program.

What happens when a timid, sickly ten-year-old boy shakes hands with one of the most

Spring, 2008 HSOG Newsletter Page 2

Mission

Since its founding in 1970, the Histori-cal Society of Ocean Grove has pledged itself to preserve, document, and en-courage community interest in the his-tory of Ocean Grove. The purpose of this non-profit Society is to sustain the heritage and honor of being designated a National Historic District. A legacy of past tradition which in current practice is preserved that includes:

• the Camp Meeting heritage of Ocean Grove and Ocean Grove’s unique history,

• the family seashore resort of natu-ral beauty that has welcomed and delighted vacationers including U.S. presidents and other famous peo-ple,

• the Historic District buildings, struc-tures, and objects that we control and maintain,

• the largest assemblage of authentic Victorian architecture in the nation established as a 19th century planned community.

HSOG Officers President

Raymond Russomano

1st Vice President

Gail Shaffer

2nd Vice President

Liz Ogden

Treasurer

Herb Bachmann

Assistant Treasurer

John Riley

Recording Secretary

Gayle Aanensen

Corresponding Secretary

Harriet Russomano

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The beginning of our 2008 events is fast approaching. We had such great success with a summer craft program last season that we have added five more craft events shown in our calendar on page 3. In our last newslet-ter, I reported that we sub-mitted a grant for digitizing old Ocean Grove and Asbury Park newspapers. We were informed in December that this grant was awarded $13,662. The plan calls for having this digitized informa-tion available at a new work-station in the museum by the end of July. A special thank you to all of our supporters who have contributed to date to the Your Museum cam-paign. Please consider becom-ing more involved. There are committees that need co-chairs and the development committee with its expanded projects needs some addi-tional members. Please call or email me at the museum if

By Herbert Bachmann

TREASURER’S REPORT

Reflecting on the state of the organization at the end of 2007, two concepts come to mind. First, our financial stability was enhanced by successful fund-raisers, a 23% increase in mem-bership receipts, and increased financial support from our mem-bers and friends. In addition, we have been recipients of sev-eral grants that enable us to provide improved services to the community and to improve our archives and facilities.

Our current officers have now had two years to demon-strate consistency and financial accountability. Being treasurer involves tireless work and at-tention to details, but I am proud to be part of the cohesive team that makes up your Ex-ecutive Board.

Newsletter Editor

Gail Shaffer

Your Museum Campaign Half Way There

By Rose Myers

We are delighted to report that you, our wonderful members, who have contributed $26,989 in donations, pledges and appre-ciated securities toward closing our $50,000 mortgage on the museum.

Please keep the momentum going. We will be sending a fol-low up to our October appeal to those of you who forgot to re-spond to our first request.

Please return the enclosed envelope with your donation and join us in this important endeavor to close the mortgage on Your Museum. Please also remember that any pledge or dona-tion over $500 gets you invited to the gala get together. In ad-dition, over $1,000 provides a personalized memorial brick in the Centennial Cottage Rose Garden.

Many thanks.

Summer crafts fee is $15 per session - register early

We need Centennial Cot-tage and Museum Docents, call 732-774-1869.

Spring, 2008 HSOG Newsletter Page 3

If in 2007 you did not send us a current Email address, please send it to the HSOG Museum at info@oceangrovehistory.org.

Come visit the Museum this Summer and see the HSOG special exhibits celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Hope-Jones Organ and the 40th aniversary of our House Tour.

Doll Houses in Ocean Grove

By Vicky Bacola

The Historic Society hosted 9 dollhouses, 3 room boxes and a cabinet house at the museum during the Victorian Holiday and House Tour Weekend. On December 8th and 9th, well over 500 adults and children came to see the show and viewed a wintry street with its tiny inhabitants.

Styles ranged from Colonial, Antebellum, Victorian, Tudor, farmhouse and a 1930’s cozy cottage. Each abode had diminutive people, pets and furnishings lovingly hand made or purchased and decorated in holiday finery (pictured above right).

The show gains more popularity each year. If you would like to loan your dollhouse or room box for the 2008 tour, please let us know.

Don’t get closed out for our Fall Theatre Trip on October 24 to see Billy Elliott. Tickets will go fast so call 732-774-1869 to reserve your seat. Two tickets in the rear balcony are still available for Young Frankenstein on May 15th.

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Historical Society of Ocean Grove P.O. Box 446 Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 www.oceangrovehistory.org

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID

RED BANK, NJ PERMIT NO. 313

Please Join Us - HSOG Membership Form

Your membership will help to support the work of the Society and is tax deductible. Name:______________________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Permanent Address: ________________________________ City/State/Zip: ________________________

E-mail Address: ______________________________________________ Telephone: ________________

Summer Address (if not same): __________________________________ Telephone: ________________ Annual Individual $20 Annual Senior (62 & over) $10 Annual Student $10

Annual Family (2 Adults/children under 18) $35 Life, Individual $250 Patron, Corporate $200

Please return form to: HSOG, Box 446, Ocean Grove, NJ. 07756

MEMBERSHIP

We are always looking for new members to help preserve Ocean Grove’s history. Now is the time to join or renew your membership. If you have done so already we thank you. Because of rising costs of maintenance and utilities, dona-tions are welcome too! Membership dues help to cover the costs of advertising special events and mailing newsletters.

REMEMBER US IN YOUR WILL

Through your participation you assist our Soci-ety in preserving and educating people about the proud history of Ocean Grove and the Camp Meeting heritage. You can continue helping this task even after your passing by remembering the Historical Society of Ocean Grove in your will. We are registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(3)(C) non-profit organization. Your at-torney or financial advisor can assist you in re-membering us.

New Renewal

The Historical Society of Ocean Grove has re-ceived an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.